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Godunov, Boris

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Godunov, Boris (bərēs` gədnôf`), c.1551–1605, czar of Russia (1598–1605). A favorite of Ivan IV Ivan IV or Ivan the Terrible, 1530–84, grand duke of Moscow (1533–84), the first Russian ruler to assume formally the title of czar.
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 (Ivan the Terrible), he helped organize Ivan's social and administrative system. After Ivan's death (1584), Boris became virtual ruler of Russia, ostensibly as regent for Ivan's young son Feodor I, who was married to Boris's sister. Boris was popularly believed to have ordered the murder (1591) of Feodor's younger brother and heir, Dmitri Dmitri (dəmē`trē) or Demetrius
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, in order to secure the succession for himself. Upon Feodor's death (1598), an assembly of the ruling class chose Boris as czar. Under his rule the Russian church was recognized (1589) as an independent patriarchate, equal to other Eastern churches; peace was obtained with Poland and Sweden, and colonization of the southern steppes and W Siberia was spurred. Most important, Boris continued Ivan's policy of strengthening the power of state officials and townspeople at the expense of the boyars boyars (bōyärz`), upper nobility in Russia from the 10th through the 17th cent.
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. Yet famine (1602–4) and popular distrust undermined his support, and when a pretender to the throne appeared claiming to be Feodor's brother Dmitri, many rallied to his support and he easily invaded Russia in 1604. Boris died, and his son, Feodor II Feodor II, 1589–1605, czar of Russia (1605). He succeeded his father, Boris Godunov , but was assassinated when the first false Dmitri was proclaimed czar.
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, was unable to defend the throne against the false Dmitri. Boris's life is the subject of a drama by Pushkin that was the basis for Moussorgsky's famous opera.

Godunov, Boris (Fyodorovich)

(born c. 1551—died April 23, 1605, Moscow, Russia) Tsar of Russia (1598–1605). After serving in the court of Ivan IV, he was named guardian to Ivan's dim-witted son Fyodor I and became the virtual ruler of Russia as Fyodor's chief adviser from 1584. When Fyodor's little brother Dmitry died mysteriously in 1591, Godunov was suspected of having had him put to death. When Fyodor died without heirs in 1598, an assembly of clergy and gentry elected Godunov tsar. A capable ruler, he instituted many reforms, but continuing boyar opposition and a general famine (1601–03) eroded his popularity. The False Dmitry led an army into Russia, and on Boris's sudden death, resistance broke down, and the country lapsed into the Time of Troubles.


Godunov, Boris
Tsar suffers pangs of conscience for having murdered the Tsarevitch in order to seize the throne. [Russ. Drama and Opera: Boris Godunov]

Godunov, Boris
(c. 1551–1605) cunningly has tsarevich murdered; gallantly accepts throne. [Russ. Lit.: Boris Godunov; Russ. Opera: Moussorgsky, Boris Godunov]


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